Business owners in Manchester should review their Fire emergency plans to maintain safety

 

Manchester Businesses should review their Fire Emergency Plans before they reopen after lockdown to ensure Staff and members of the Public are kept safe.

Businesses across Manchester are reopening after months of lockdown – but now there is a new ‘normal’ and we all must adhere to the Covid-19 Secure guidelines. Whilst this is of course a priority so is reviewing the Fire Safety Emergency Plan.

Keeping Staff and the members of the Public safe in time of emergency is imperative and the existing Fire Emergency Plan included in the Fire Safety Risk Assessment may not reflect the premise as it is today. The following are just a few points for the identified ‘Responsible Person’ to consider:

• If you are operating a ‘one-way system’ in your Manchester premise, how does that affect your evacuation plan.
• Assembly Point – does your existing Assembly Point allow enough room for people to social distance.
• Are hand sanitiser stations or washing facilities on the means of escape and will they hinder the evacuation or re-entry into the building.
• Have you changed the location of any storage in order to accommodate a one-way system, if so check that you have maintained a clear route through the means of escape.

 

If you need help reviewing your Fire Emergency Plan for your Manchester premise or your Fire Safety Risk Assessment is out of date you should act now!

London Fire Risk Assessments are an independent Fire Risk Assessment Company established 14 years ago to help Clients meet the requirements of The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. As they are not affiliated to any Fire Alarm Supplier or Installer Clients can be assured that the advice given is totally unbiased.  

With Clients having premises in both London and Manchester LFRA found themselves increasingly travelling to and from both cities. So, in a bold, progressive move London Fire Risk Assessments have opened a new division dedicated to serve businesses in Manchester. All their Fire Risk Assessors have qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers and are members of the Fire Protection Association. So, if you are looking for a Fire Risk Assessment Company in Manchester or you just need advice on reviewing your Fire Safety Emergency Plan call now on 07824 185293 or click here their customer service team will be happy to help!

A Holborn Office Caught Fire, Which Became Complex Due to the Layout of the Building

A Holborn Office Fire appears to have started within a ceiling void on the third floor and subsequently spread throughout the voids. 150 Firefighters were call to the scene as this was a complex Fire due to the age and layout of the building.

London Fire Brigade reported on their incident page that the roof of the six-storey building and a staircase from the third to the fifth floor were destroyed by the Fire. Half of the third and fourth floor were also damaged. Around twenty-eight people left the building before the London Fire Brigade arrived and 11 people were evacuated from nearby flats as a precaution. There were no reports of any injuries.

"Firefighters worked throughout the night in very challenging and arduous conditions to prevent the Fire from spreading to key areas of the historic building, while also trying to prevent water damage.

"Crews remained on scene throughout Sunday damping down and cutting away. They also carried out salvage work to minimise damage to the building.”

Fire investigators have now completed their examination at the scene and believe the cause of the Fire to be accidental, although the exact cause has currently been recorded as undetermined.

The Fire appears to have started within a ceiling void on the third floor and subsequently spread throughout the voids, increasing the challenge for our Firefighters with both Firefighting and protecting the contents of the building. To read more click here

London Fire Risk Assessments comments:

The compartmentation of a building is crucial, if it is not intact a Fire can spread rapidly through a Building. A good Fire Risk Assessment for a Building will identify any deficiencies within the compartmentation and these will be recorded in the Fire Safety Management Plan – Significant Findings. It is vital that the identified ‘Responsible Persons’ acts on these findings to ensure the safety of the occupants and the Building itself.

If you need help, then contact London Fire Risk Assessments – they are a Fire Safety Consultancy based in London and are completely independent. They are not affiliated to any Fire Protection Services Company, so their advice is totally unbiased. All their Fire Safety Assessors are retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers and they are all qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers. Call now on 0781 8888626 and chat to one of their friendly team alternatively click here.

A Cinema in London Was Evacuated After Smoke Came Out From the Cinema Roof

800 People were evacuated from a Cinema in Wood Green, London after smoke was seen coming from a sign on the Cinema roof. 

London Fire Brigade reported, on their incident page that Six Fire engines and around 40 Fire fighters were called to a Cinema on High Road in Wood Green. Part of the roof was damaged by the blaze which was thought to be caused by an electrical fault in a lighting unit on the roof. 

It is unusual for the London Fire Brigade to report an incident at a Cinema, the most common Fires are mainly in Residential Flats. This does however prove that a Fire can occur anywhere!

With so many members of the public in a premise such as this Fire Safety is paramount equally so is the Fire Safety Training of the Staff! 

All Cinema’s and any premise offering Entertainment for members of the public must have a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment. The Assessor carrying out the Fire Safety Inspection/Audit must witness the premise service records which should included a 5 Year Electrical and Lighting Periodical Test Certificate. The Staff Fire Safety Training must be up to date and records of this must be given to the Assessor to include in the Fire Safety Risk Assessment.

If you are the identified ‘Responsible Person’ for an Entertainment venue, then check that your Fire Safety Risk Assessment is up to date and that your Staff are fully trained in Fire Safety.

If you need help, then contact London Fire Risk Assessments – they are a Fire Safety Consultancy based in London and are completely independent. They are not affiliated to any Fire Safety Services Company, so their advice is totally unbiased. All their Fire Safety Assessors are retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers and they are all qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers. Call now on 0781 8888626 and chat to one of their friendly team alternatively click here.

Have You Considered Fire Safety Rules While Converting Residential Flats into Open Plan Living

Converting Residential Flats and Houses into open plan living is the latest design trend, but has Fire Safety been considered? You may find that a you need to get advice or even permission from a London based Fire Safety Consultancy or Building Control.

Sometimes the ‘Dream’ Cannot Always Cecome ‘Reality’.

Before you go to the significant cost of knocking down walls and redesigning your kitchen/lounge/diner it may be money well spent to send your proposed plans to a Fire Safety Consultancy for advice or Building Control.

It is better to know at planning stage if there are any issues rather than completing the works and then finding that the Fire protection is not adequate.

Fire compartmentation is there to protect you – to keep you safe from a Fire for as long as possible. Taking the compartmentation away creates a high-risk environment. 

It is not always bad news – there are compensatory measures that sometimes can be used such as a full Automatic Fire Alarm and Detection system and/or a Fire Suppression System.

Getting the right advise is imperative and once your plans are approved (if that is required) it will be up to you to ensure that the Fire Suppression System and/or the Fire Alarm and Detection System is inspected and maintained to regulations.

London Fire Risk Assessments are a London based Fire Safety Consultancy, they have been serving clients for over 12 years. Their Fire Risk Assessors are qualified with the Institution of Fire Engineers and they are all retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers, so they are experienced in both sides - putting Fires out and preventing them! 

To discuss your plans or for Fire Safety advice contact London Fire Risk Assessments on 01689 890879 they will be happy to take a brief look at your plans and advise you on the way forward.

London Fire Brigade Sends Notice To A Mosque For Not Having A Suitable Fire Safety Risk Assessment

A Mosque in London was issued an Enforcement Notice and then a Prohibition Notice, one of the reasons for this serious action from the London Fire Brigade was that it didn’t have a detailed, ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Safety Risk Assessment.

London Churches, Mosques, Synagogues all religious centres should have a Fire Risk Assessment to ensure people intending to worship are as safe as possible from Fire.

The identified ‘Responsible Person’ must ensure that the Fire Detection and Alarm, Extinguishers, Fire Separation and Means of Escape, to name just a few, are sufficient for the size and type of premise and that the capacity is also correct.

This highlights that the cheap, check box Risk Assessments advertised on the internet may not be adequate and a more sensibly priced, detailed report may be more cost effective – after all this is a document required by law!

Finding a London based Fire Safety Consultancy to carry out the Fire Safety Inspection/Audit may be easier than your think! The Institution of Fire Engineers is an independent body that have an ‘Approved’ Fire Risk Assessor Register all Assessors are qualified to carry out a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Safety Risk Assessment and have had to prove competency in all aspects of Fire Safety.

London Fire Risk Assessments is a London based Fire Safety Consultancy and are on the IFE Register of Approved Risk Assessors. 

They are a friendly team that will not only provide you with a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment they offer a support service for one year should you have any Fire Safety concerns – that’s what you call customer service!

When you are responsible for so many lives you must take your responsibility seriously so don’t take any chances book an appointment with a qualified Fire Safety Risk Assessor call London Fire Risk Assessments now on 01689 890879 to get a free quotation.

Hotels in London Should Be Prepared For the Holiday Season Wwth Fire Safety Checks Done For Their Premises

London Hostels, Hotels, Airbnb Hosts, Bed and Breakfast and Holiday Lets the holiday season is fast approaching - are you ready for your guests? Have you carried out your Fire Safety checks and is the Fire Risk Assessment for your Building up to date!

Don’t think ‘everything will be ok – it was last year’ things can change and the unexpected can really happen! 

Just recently a blaze at a Hostel in Harrow had a kitchen on the first floor destroyed by Fire. Fortunately, a resident raised the alarm after smelling smoke and 10 people left the property before the Fire Brigade arrived another 8 residents were led to safety by the Brigade. 

All commercial premises must have a Fire Safety Risk Assessment for their Building – it’s the law! Even Airbnb Hosts who have paying guests must have one and if you look closely at your building insurance you will see it’s a requirement.

But where do you find a Fire Safety Risk Assessor in London – if you carry out a general internet search so many Fire Protection Safety Services offering all kinds of tempting deals come up BUT are they qualified to do the job!

One of the safest places to find a ‘qualified’ Fire Risk Assessor is the Institution of Fire Engineers, on their home page they have a Register of ‘Approved’ Assessors. Everyone on the Register has proved competency in Fire Safety and are fully accredited and insured.

London Fire Risk Assessments is on the Register of ‘Approved’ Risk Assessor and are completely independent of any Fire Protection Safety Services so what they identify in their reports is exactly what is required. Their Fire Safety Risk Assessment package includes the following:

• Fire Safety Inspection/Audit
• Fire Safety Risk Assessment report
• Fire Safety Management Plan – Significant Findings
• Fire Safety Policy 
• Fire Safety Emergency Plan

All the ‘parts’ required by The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.

If you require a Fire Safety Risk Assessment for your Building then contact London Fire Risk Assessments they have a friendly support team that is there to help and will talk through the best Fire Safety solution for your environment. Call now on 01689 890879.

The Ground Floor of a Restaurant in Paddington, London Was Damaged Due To Improper Ventilation System

      

The ground floor of a Restaurant in Paddington, London and part of the ventilation system from the ground to second floor were damaged by Fire. The cause of the Fire is still under investigation by the London Fire Brigade but no doubt the ventilation system itself will probably be considered.

London Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs and Hotels in fact all environment with a commercial Kitchen should, as part of their Fire Safety checks, ensure that the ventilation/extraction system is regularly cleaned, maintained and serviced in-line with regulations.

All the above should also have a Fire Risk Assessment for their London premise – it’s the law!

The first stage of a Fire Risk Assessment is a Fire Safety Inspection/Audit and part of the process will be to witness the premise Log Book. 

The Log Book should identify when the Ventilation/extraction system was last cleaned, maintained and serviced along with any identified deficiencies. Keeping an up to date Log Book will indicate to the Assessor the level of Fire Safety Management in place.

If you don’t have a Fire Risk Assessment immediate action is needed as it is a requirement of the Regulatory (Fire Safety) 2005 to have one in place. 

If the London Fire Brigade visits the premise you will most probably be issued with a Notice of Deficiencies and will be given a timescale to get a ‘suitable and sufficient’ Fire Risk Assessment in place.

Finding a competent Fire Safety Consultancy to carry out the FRA isn’t an easy task – if you carry out a general internet search all kinds of Fire Protection Services in London come up offering cheap, fixed priced Fire Risk Assessments – but ask yourself how can it be a fixed price as a large Secondary School cannot be the same price as a small Restaurant or Café can it!

The Institution of Fire Engineers is an independent body who accredit Fire Risk Assessors, on their website they have a Register of Approved Fire Risk Assessors all of whom have proved competency in Fire Safety for all types of premises.

London Fire Risk Assessments is on the IFE Register, they are independent Fire Risk Assessment Company and fully qualified to do the job!  All their Fire Risk Assessors are retired London Fire Brigade Fire Safety Officers and have had many, many years both fighting Fires and preventing them. Their friendly team are on hand to provide you Fire Safety Solutions so call now on 01689 890879 to book a Fire Safety Inspection.